Chapter 325 The Relationships Are Really Messed Up
Jasper raised an eyebrow, scanning Adeline's face. It had been a while. Ever since he overheard her take on the skull design, he'd been dodging her.
If she thought he was evil, cold, and better off forgotten, why force interactions and make them both miserable?
He didn't expect her to confront him, blocking his path so determinedly.
Lighting a cigarette, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, he said, "Avoiding you?"
"Don't play dumb," Adeline snapped, frustrated. "Every time I look for you, you're gone. You even skip meetings if you know I'll be there. If that's not avoidance, what is?"
Jasper took a long drag, glancing at Royal Elegance Dining across the street. Sebastian, dressed in white and holding roses, anxiously checked his watch and scanned the crowd.
Smirking, Jasper blew smoke towards Adeline. "Miss Wilson, isn't it a bit rude to keep Sebastian waiting while you grill me about avoidance?"
Adeline bit her lip, blushing. He was right; she was already late.
But she couldn't waste this chance to get answers from Jasper.
"Jasper, please," she softened. "Did I do something to offend you? I can't think of anything."
"And the jewelry line," she added, gaining confidence. "It's a hit, thanks to my designs. I need to know why you're pushing me away."
Jasper's face hardened. "You don't need to know."
He tried to move past her, but she blocked him, arms outstretched.
"Jasper, please," she insisted, desperate. "What did I do?"
Annoyance flickered across his face. "Must I spell it out, Miss Wilson?"
Taking another drag, he stared at her through the smoke.
"Evil. Cold. A relic that should have stayed buried."
His words hit hard. "Isn't that how you see me?"
Without another word, he shoved past her, his shoulder bruising hers, and walked away.
Adeline stood frozen, his words echoing.
Then it clicked. The skull design. The one she sketched with Lauren, a playful exercise that took on a life of its own.
And the meeting with Jason, Jasper's friend. They discussed the skull's symbolism, her interpretation.
Jasper's words mirrored her own.
She had unknowingly revealed her true feelings, seeing him as a dark figure from her past.
Nausea washed over her.
So, Jasper thought that she saw him as an evil, cold-hearted person who deserved to die long ago?
Although, when she drew it back then, that was indeed what she thought.
She needed Jasper. She needed to work with him, to navigate the challenges ahead.
"Having a little lover's spat, are you?"
David's amused voice cut through her thoughts.
Adeline looked up, dazed.
David flicked his cigarette butt into a trash can, eyes twinkling with mischief. "You two are quite the pair. The first time I met Jasper was because of you."
"He carried you out of that warehouse like you were the most precious thing in the world," David said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I thought you two were together. Never guessed it was complicated."
He leaned in, whispering, "So, what's the deal? Lover's quarrel or something more... intriguing?"
Adeline shook her head, feeling heavy-hearted. "It's not what you think."
"Honestly, you and Linda are two peas in a pod," David muttered, running a hand through his hair.
The mention of Linda snapped Adeline back to reality. She'd been so wrapped up in her issues with Jasper that she'd neglected her friend.
"How is she?" she asked, barely audible.
"Not good," David said, his usual cheer gone. "She's pregnant."
Adeline's eyes widened. "Pregnant?"
"Yeah," David confirmed, lighting another cigarette with shaky hands. "From those bastards who attacked her."
Adeline felt a chill. "Didn't she... take anything?"
David laughed bitterly. "You think she'd be in this mess if she had?"
He took a long drag, staring into the distance. "She was in bad shape, Adeline. You all left in such a hurry, and my friends wouldn't know how to handle this."
"A few days ago, she started getting sick. Thought it was a stomach bug. Turns out, she's pregnant."
Adeline felt a sob rising. This was her fault. Linda was suffering because of her.
"The doctor said an abortion's too risky," David continued, voice raw. "Could leave her infertile, or worse."
"I told her I'd raise the kid, no questions asked. I need an heir anyway, right?" He laughed bitterly. "But she won't hear of it. Says the thought of carrying that monster's child makes her sick. Tried to off herself a few days ago. Luckily, I got to her in time."
"She's in the hospital now, under constant watch. Got her the best shrinks money can buy, but nothing's working."
David ran a hand through his hair, worry etched on his face. "She's more fragile than she looks, Adeline. This is breaking her."
Adeline's heart ached for her friend. Words felt useless; the trauma Linda carried was deep. The thought of carrying a constant reminder of that horrific night was unbearable.
She made a decision. "I'll go with you."
Her plans to visit the kids would have to wait. Linda needed her.
"Adeline?"
Sebastian's concerned voice reached them. He had crossed the street, his bouquet of roses wilting slightly.
Adeline turned to David, resolute. "When do we leave for Neon City?"
"Tomorrow morning," he replied, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"Good." She scribbled her contact info on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "Call me then."
"In a hurry to leave?" David asked, glancing between Adeline and the approaching Sebastian. "Boyfriend?"
Adeline nodded curtly. "Yes."
David chuckled, slinging an arm around her shoulders in a brotherly yet possessive way. He winked at Sebastian. "She's all yours for now, Romeo. But she's leaving with me tomorrow."
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